Apr 26, 2022; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers designated hitter Willie Calhoun (4) reacts after striking out during the seventh inning against the Houston Astros at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Remember when the Rangers trade Yu Darvish to the Dodgers? They officially gave up on Willie Calhoun, by dealing him to the Giants. Calhoun was the main piece from the Darvish trade.
Calhoun could never really get going in Texas, so a change of scenery is needed. For the former Dodgers prospect turned Rangers flop, San Francisco is the exact type of team he needed to join — an organization known for career turnarounds.
Calhoun already accepted an assignment to Triple-A with the Rangers, so he isn’t a 40-man acquisition for San Francisco. That’s actually perfect for Gabe Kapler and Co., considering there isn’t room for him on the Giants roster.
Instead, Calhoun will report to Sacramento, and play Triple-A ball in hopes of turning his career around. It’s something the Giants organization does quite well.
Rangers trade Wille Calhoun to Giants
The other end of this trade, which sends Steven Duggar to Texas, is a bit of an odd fit from the outside looking in. He’s a left-handed hitting outfielder on a team that features plenty of those. Outside of a platoon/bench position, there’s not much room for him in Arlington.
San Francisco and Farhan Zaidi are taking the far more intriguing route with Calhoun. Zaidi is a former team executive with the Dodgers, where Calhoun was a prized prospect. He’s a player Zaidi is familiar with.
We’ll see if San Francisco can revive some of those talents that made Calhoun a key player in the Yu Darvish trade in the first place.